Army's game at Boston College and Air Force's game at Navy in Annapolis, Md., were in jeopardy after the Defense Department temporarily suspended sports competition at the service academies as a result of the budget impasse in Congress.

Well, there are "College Sports", and then there is College Football. Don't try to confuse the two.

The reason it will continue is because they aren't spending government money on them. The Sec Def is just giving them the okay to spend their own money, to do their own thing. Can't really argue with that.

Also, the NCAA probably snuck a guy into the Sec Def's house and made rather ominous threats should the football schedule get messed up. You just don't mess with the stronger force in our nation - the NCAA.

Jesus again, the money for this came from NAF. Some government facilites run without money from Congress so those facilities and functions (like this football team is doing) will continue to go on if there is a shutdown or not since the funds don't come from the federal budget.

Nabb1:I'm okay with this. The kids that play for the service academies aren't trying to prime themselves for a pro career or anything like that. This shutdown is a damned farce as it is.

It's a farce, sure. I'll just tell that to my mortgage provider, Verizon, my gas & electric providers as well. They will understand, and will totally give me a "by" on my bills, since I'm not getting any income until the shut down is over.

/can't file for unemployment//federal correctional officer. husband has to go to work every day for no pay.

INeedAName:The reason it will continue is because they aren't spending government money on them. The Sec Def is just giving them the okay to spend their own money, to do their own thing. Can't really argue with that.

And if we're able to keep the football teams running like this, maybe we should consider running more parts of the government on non-appropriated funds. Have each department hit up the taxpayer directly for the services they provide instead of relying on the schmucks in Congress to cover their operating expenses. Not that the entire system could be run that way, obviously, but it would help to mitigate the impact of the next shutdown.

And if we're able to keep the football teams running like this, maybe we should consider running more parts of the government on non-appropriated funds. Have each department hit up the taxpayer directly for the services they provide instead of relying on the schmucks in Congress to cover their operating expenses. Not that the entire system could be run that way, obviously, but it would help to mitigate the impact of the next shutdown.

Run the entire base off of charity and fees? The only places that NAF funds work for are sporting items and recreational items since they are the only things that can truely justify fees and sales of items. How can you run a grocery store off of fees and donations?

InfrasonicTom:appeasing the military is probably the only wise move the electorati have made in recent weeks.

Not so sure those vets trying to visit the WWII memorial this week would agree with you about this...

And again, the only reason they were possibly cancelling them is for the 'optics'... but yanno, we'll rent barrycades for open spaced parks that have no fed funds used for maintenance and 'close' them off to the public.

Feels badly for those folks (like fed correction officer's family) who will struggle... but eh, bennies of workin' for the gubmint require this from time to time... 17 shutdowns since the 70's....

INeedAName:The reason it will continue is because they aren't spending government money on them. The Sec Def is just giving them the okay to spend their own money, to do their own thing. Can't really argue with that.

Also, the NCAA probably snuck a guy into the Sec Def's house and made rather ominous threats should the football schedule get messed up. You just don't mess with the stronger force in our nation - the NCAA.

INeedAName:The reason it will continue is because they aren't spending government money on them. The Sec Def is just giving them the okay to spend their own money, to do their own thing. Can't really argue with that.

I sure as hell can argue with that. The optics of it are TERRIBLE. At a time when everyone else has to take a bite of the turd sandwich the academy sports teams get to act like nothing's wrong? .